Diving apparatus.



No. 735,323. PATENTED AUG. 4, 1903.

J. L. WATSON.

DIVING APPARATUS.

AAPPLIUAVTION FILED Nov. 12. 1902.

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Patented August 4, 1903.

lPri-itesm OFFICE. i

JOHN L. WATSON, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

DIVING APPARATUS.

SPCIFIGATION forming part of Letters .'atent NCL-735,323, dated' August4, 1903.

Application iiledNovember 12, 1902. SeriallNo. 131,036. (No model.)

`To a/ZZ whom t mag/concern: v i Be it known that I, JOHN L. WATSON, acitizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county ofLos Angeles, State -of California, have invented new and usefulImproveniente in Diving Apparatus, of which safe, efficient, andeconomical manner.

the following is a specification.

My invention relates to means to enable a person to descend into thewater and examine the bottom and remove anything therefrom withoutcoming in contactwith the sur-- rounding water; and theobject thereof isto providemeans to accomplish the same in a I accomplish this object bymeans of the mechanism described herein and illustrated in theacco-mpanying drawings, in which- Figure l is an elevation of my divingapparatus in working position in the water and secured to a boat atanchor. Fig. 2 is avertical section of the diving-bell, and Fig. 3 is aside elevation'ol:` my diving-bell and attachments for usein' deepwater.

Referring to the drawings, A is a vessel adapted for use in any businessin which a diving-bell is used.

B is the diving-bell,which is secured to the vessel by cable C, which isoperated by derrick D in the usual manner, said derrick being securedupon the vessel. Said bell is provided with an air-hose E, through whichair is supplied to the interior of the bell in the usual manner.V On theinner end of the hose is a valve F, by means of which communicationthrough the hose with the interior of the bell may be cut olfin case thehose should accidentally be punctured, and thus prevent the waterfromloodingthe bell.

When in use in shallow water, lthe air-hose is preferably large enoughto permit the air to naturally pass therethrough; but when used in deepwater the air-hose is preferably smaller and anair-pulnp (not shown) isused t0 force the air into and out of the bell in the usual manner. Inthe top of the bell isthe removable cover G, which is secured to the topof the bellbyA bolts H, which can be turned by the diver when in thebell, so as to unloosen the cover from the bell. The

cover is connected with the vessel by a rope or CableI and is secured tothe diver J by rope-K, sothat in casethe bellgets fouled on the bottomor any accident happens thereto so that itcanuot loe promptly raised thedivercan unloosen the cover and be hauled up to the surface by theropes. The bell is provided with a convenient number of deadlights L toenable the operator to view the bottom.

If desired, the bell can be connected by insulated wires with thevessel, and a telephone and'electric lights may be installed therein.The lower portion of the bell is preferably on a slant, as shown in thedrawings, for the convenience of the operator, and is provided withatool-box M, in which such tools as may be" desired for use at the bottomof the Water may be placed. In that portion of the bell whichslopestoward the center of the bottom I have provided a door N, whichmay be opened outwardly by the operator to enable him to use a tooldirectly on the bottom 'with unincumbered hands.

To prevent the air escaping from the bell when the door isopened, I haveprovided a removable hood O, ,which is attached to the body of the bellby studs P, having nuts P', which at all times prevent any waterentering the bell. Thedoor is provided With a couple of exiblewater-tight sleeves R, which terminate in glove-shaped ends to receivethe hands and arms ofthe operator when the door is closed, so that hecan use his hands without permitting the entrance of the water into thebell. These arms may be reinforced by springwire, if desired, to preventtoo great pressure of the water on the hands and arms of the operator.

In Fig. l I have shown a retrieving-basket S in position near the bellthat is not provided witha hood for the reception of any article that itmay be desired to have removed from the bottom. This basket is operatedby rope T, connected with the vessel. Where the bell is to be used indeep water, I prefer to attach to the bottom thereof a wire cage U,having an opening at U', through which articles to be removed from thebottom may be placed. This cage is adaptedfor use and IOO bottom and isan air-tight vessel when the door 'is closed. It will also be understoodthat the hood is open at the bottom and is closed at the top and thatits contact with the body of the bell is an air-tight joint. When thedoor is to be opened, there must be a sufticient air-pressure in thebell to prevent the water from entering therein. When the bell is to beused in very deep water, I provide a plurality of weights to be attachednear the bottom thereof. These I have shown as bags of sand V,which aresecured to rod W, which is removably secured to the hood. In

. shallow Water the bell and vessel are preferably secured to the sameanchoring-Weight X by cable-rope Y.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is-

l. In a diving apparatus the combination with a Workin g chamber of aremovable cover; a rope attached to the top ot' said cover; a ropeattached to the under side of said cover adapted to be secured to theoperator in said working chamber.

2. In a diving apparatus, the combination with the working ch'amberthereof of a removable cover for said chamber, said cover having aconnection for raising the same; a connection from said cover to theoperator in said chamber; means for lowering said working chamber.

3. In a diving apparatus the combination with the working chamber of aremovable cover provided with elevating means and also with `a device tobe secured to the body of the operator in said chamber, and means forlowering and hoisting said chamber.

4. A diving apparatus consisting of a working chamber-provided with aremovable cover having elevating means attached thereto; means securedto the cover adapted to be secured to the operator; attachments leadingfrom the chamber to a boat or scow; an anchor; means for supplying airto the chamber, and means for raising and lowering the anchor, and thechamber vfrom said boat or scow.

5. In a diving apparatus the combination of a working chamber; a hoodremovably secured `to said chamber on one side thereof; a door in saidchamber within said hood; means to supply said chamber with air; meansto lower and hoist said chamber.

6. In-a diving apparatus the combination with a'working chamber of ahood removably secured to said chamber on one side thereof; a door insaid chamber within said hood; means to supply said chamber with air;means to lower and hoist said chamber; a Wire cage affixed to the bottomof said chamber and having an opening into the top there- JOI-IN L.WATSON.

Witnesses:

G. E. HARPHAM, HENRY T. HAZARD.

